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Inside the Colts playbook: Areas of need are D-line, safety and receiver

By Rick Venturi, Special to The Star
1:35 p.m. EST January 14, 2014

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Indianapolis Colts Antoine Bethea rides the back of Kansas City Chiefs Junior Hemingway during the AFC Playoff game against Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Lucas Oil Stadium.(Photo: Matt Detrich/The Star)Buy Photo

Rick Venturi was a college and pro football coach for more than 30 seasons, including a 10-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts and working with current Patriots coach Bill Belichick in Cleveland. He provides takes a coach's view of the Colts heading into the off-season after they were eliminated by New England on Saturday.

For three quarters Saturday night, we witnessed a hell of a game, only to see New England running back LeGarrette Blount and linebacker Jamie Collins destroy the Colts' hopes in the fourth quarter. At the end of the day, the new-look Patriots won by pounding the rock and making third-and-short their best friend. The Patriots' offensive line dominated the Colts defensive line all night. The Patriots' overwhelming numbers — 43 points, 234 yards rushing, 35 minutes of ball possession, and 11-of-18 converting third downs — tell you all you need to know.

On defense, the Patriots did exactly what has become their formula with their patched up defense: give up yards but keep the point total down and take the ball away (four picks). They held T.Y. Hilton to four catches and never allowed Luck to escape and extend plays. They continually collapsed the pocket and successfully blitzed over running back Donald Brown.

There was a lot to like about the Colts' 12-win season and it was painful to see them get knocked out of the tournament. In some ways, however, the Belichick game plan defines who the Colts are. If they didn't know their weaknesses going in to Saturday's game, they do now! If the Colts are smart, they won't over embellish the 12 wins but, instead, address every area that was painfully exposed.

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Colts DT Josh Chapman, center, feels the loss to the San Diego Chargers as he and teammates Jack Doyle, left, and Cory Redding, right, walk to the locker room after their game at Qualcomm Stadium on October 14, 2013.(Photo: Matt Detrich / The Star)

First and foremost, the Colts must upgrade their defensive line play. This is an over-hyped unit that provides little to no production. Couple this with safeties who struggle in open spaces, the 26th-ranked run defense confirms absolutely who they are. As a matter of fact, if the Colts hadn't used their corners in hard pressing man-to-man coverages, allowing the safeties to play in the box, they would have never stopped the run.

Secondly, when the opponents account for linebacker Robert Mathis, there is no one who can rush the passer. Mathis is awesome, but a smart plan can cut his effectiveness. Inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman makes plays and outside linebacker Erik Walden has been solid. Vontae Davis, when focused, is an excellent corner and Darius Butler is a solid nickelback. Unfortunately, it is next to impossible to win over the long hall — with a defense so non-athletic on the inside of the field.

The offense has issues but may be more fixable. Andrew is a terrific quarterback whose biggest issue is learning that he can't win the game with every throw. In the playoffs, he certainly made unwise decisions and non-precise throws into the second level of the defense. It is, however, a catch-22, in that, surrounded by only one real perimeter weapon (Hilton), he actually does have to make every play.

Upfront, they can survive at tackle. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo sets way too soft off the line but he can improve on that. Guard Donald Thomas is the only complete player inside, so you'll have to address it. Hilton established himself as a top-line receiver despite tons of coverage and I think LaVon Brazill has upside. If Reggie Wayne can make it back full from his knee injury, it would be a huge shot in the arm. I would exhaust every resource to get a top-flight weapon to go with Hilton.

The Colts have a dilemma in that they don't have a complete running back. Donald Brown was truly outstanding with the ball but he's totally mismatched on pass protection. Trent Richardson is a pass protector but his running is both ponderous and indecisive. Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard were complete and, hopefully, Ballard makes it back.

This coaching staff wasn't perfect (coach, don't punt on fourth-and-1 down 21 points in the fourth quarter), but did a very good job of overcoming adversity to win 12 games. The biggest problem is, this is not a prime time roster and there's tons of work to do. This regime's first draft was outstanding but the second was anything but a home run. The most troubling issue, looking forward, is that they have gotten next to nothing out of first-round pick Bjoern Werner and traded the '14 selection. This year's acquisitions will be critical because with new regimes in Jacksonville, Tennessee and Houston, things are going to get much tougher in the AFC South.